Window structure



May 22, 1945- B. D. CROZIER 2,376,655

WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 22,1945. 5. D. CROZIER wmnow STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 22, 1945 WINDOW STRUCTURE Bruce D. Crozier, Clinton, Iowa, assignor to Curtis Companies Incorporated, Clinton, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application October 12, 1942, Serial No. 461,750

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a Window structure and particularly to a ventilator section consisting of a frame and sash adapted for mounting in a window opening.

As illustrative of the objects of my invention, I point out that for a decade past steel windows have been used almost exclusively in factory and industrial buildings. Present stringencies in the available supply of steel and other metals, however, have made it imperativ that the use of metals be reduced to a minimum. War time necessities require the construction of large numbers of new factory buildings and the provision of suitable window equipment for these buildings is of primary importance.

Leading industrial architects have devised wood window structures which satisfactorily meet many of the requirements. However, a basic design of these windows involves fixed glass panels. with no provision for ventilation. The need for ventilator sections requiring a minimum of metal in their construction, installation and operation, has given rise to my present invention.

It is an object of my invention to provide a ventilator section in which the structural members may suitably be of wood, the entire section being adapted to fit readily in a larger window frame in the space normally provided for fixed glass panes.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a ventilator section capable of ready modification to permit its installation and use either as a swing-in ventilator or as a swing-out ventilator.

A further object in a universal ventilator section of the kind described, is the provision of means giving a water drip feature to protect the joint at the pivoted side of the sash, whether the structure be arranged to swing in or to swing out. In addition, I provide for a snug seal around the edges of the sash, to minimize infiltration losses in cold weather.

A further object is to provide a frame and sash assembly modifiable for use either as a swing-in or swing-out ventilator, in which all the parts are used, no matter which way the deviceis assembled the sash can be taken down to a suitable working place.

Together with the above objects, it is my aim 'to provide a construction which is economical of fabrication, cheap and easy to install, and which involves a minimum of maintenance expense.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a window structure in which my ventilator section is incorporated;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, showing the ventilator sash in open position, the mounting being such that it opens outward;

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, showing th sash arranged to open inward;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective detail view illustrating the construction at one corner of th frame of the ventilator section;

Figure 6 is a perspective detail view of a corner of the sash of the ventilator section;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the operating bar;

Figure 8 is an elevational detail view showing a modified form of pivot bolt, and

Figure 9 is a top view'of the structure illustrated in Figure 8.

In the accompanyingdrawings, I have employed the letter W to indicate generally a larger window or sash structure 'in which my ventilator section may be inserted as a sub-assembly. The window shown is one which has been developed particularly for use in industrial applications of the kind which I have mentioned. However, it will be apparent that a structure embodying my invention may be incorporated in other types of Window structures, or may, indeed, be used as an entirely sparate window, being placed by itself in a framed opening in a house or other building.

The structure shown as illustrating my invention consists of two principal parts, designated generally as the frame F and the sash S. The frame F, as may be seen in Figure 1, consists of a rail ID, a rail l2, and stiles l4, assembled in rectangular form. The outside dimensions of the frame F are such that it can be readily inserted into the window structure W in the groove l6 normally provided to receive glass panes. (See Figure 2.) When a ventilator section according to my invention is to be mounted in a window, the muntins l8 as well as the fixed glass panes are omitted. The profile of the intermediate rail members 20, including the glass grooves l6, may nevertheless be unchanged, so that manufacture of special profiles is unnecessary.

The frame F may be mounted in the window W in any suitable way, but I prefer to set it into i the glass grooves in putty or suitable mastic material 22. Nails or screws can be used in addition, to make a firm, permanent fastening.

Supported within the frame F is the sash S, composed of a horizontal rail 24, a horizontal rail 26, stiles 28 and intermediate muntins 30. These members may be provided with glass grooves 32 in which panes of glass 34 are mounted in the usual way.

Attention is called at this point to the fact that in the drawings the putty 36 is shown on the inside of the window, this being the arrangement now preferred by leading industrial architects. If for any reason it is desired to have the putty on the outside, the sash can be reversed, its operation as herein described being otherwise unaffected.

The sash S is mounted in the frame F by hinge pins 38 which pass through holes 40 in the stiles '14 into sockets 42 at the corners of the sash. A

portion is broken away at the right of Figure 1 to illustrate this structure, and it is shown in en'- larged detail in Figures and 6. Where economy of metal is important, the hinge pins may be made of hardwood.

The outer face 44 of the rail 24 is contoured along an are having the axis of the hinge pins 38 as a center. Correspondingly, the inner face 46 of the rail I0 in the frame is similarly contoured, so that a reasonably close fit between these members obtains with the sash in closed position, or in any open position which it may assume, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. The rail ID has a rabbet 48 cut in its inner edge and a symmetrically located rabbet 50 may be provided. The frame stiles l4 have an inwardly extending lip or stop 52 and the rail 12 has a corresponding lip 54.

The profiles of the sash stiles 28 and the rail 26 are symmetrical about a vertical plane through the centers of the hinge pins 38, and are made with edge rabbets 56 and 58 at the sides and one end to coact with the lips 52 and 54 when the sash is in closed position. Thus, it will be observed, in Figure 4 and in the dotted line showings of Figures 2 and 3, that a sealing engagement along the two vertical edges and one horizontal edge of the sash is obtained through the resulting overlap of the members.

The reason for forming the members symmetrically with respect to a plane through the hinge pins is that when the structure is so made, the frame is reversible on the sash, i. 6., it can be turned inside out and still have the same effective sealing relation with the sash around all four edges. This reversibility is particularly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The outside of the building is regarded as being at the right of each of these figures.

In Figure 2, the ventilator section is arranged to swing outwardly; and to provide proper watershed, in such a 'case. the hinge joint must come at the top. Note that the curved surfaces 44 and 46, being lower at the outside, give an effective water-drip along the pivoted side of the sash.

At the bottom of the frame, the lip 54 comes at the inside and hence prevents ingress of water which may beat against the window (Fig. 1). When the frame is reversed the lip 54 is at the top and is an overhang to keep out water (Fig. 2).

For the outwardly opening ventilator, an operating means consisting of a curved notched bar 60 pivotally mounted on a. bracket 62 is fastened to the rail 26. On the outside of the curve, notches 64 are provided, which engage with the lip 54. A plurality of such notches can be provided, so that the window may conveniently be retained in any one of a number of different opened positions. The bar serves conveniently to give a grip by which the window can be closed, and when the window is closed the bar drops down to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and prevents the window from being accidentally opened, as by the pressure of wind or other cause.

Along the hinge side of the sash, I provide a sealing strip 66 formed with a curved inner surface 68 coacting with the surface 44 of the rail 24'. A portion 10 of the sealing strip extends beyond the curved surface 68, and fits into the rabbet 48 when the sash is in closed position. Since the point of contact is very close to the axis of the hinge pins, this fit can be made a very snug one without affecting the easy operation of the window, and hence it is practical to get a good, tight weather-seal at this point. It will thus be seen that suflicient clearance may be allowed between the surfaces .44 and 46 of the sash and frame, respectively, to give smooth opereration of the window, yet a tight closure may be had when the window is in closed position.

Figure 3 illustrates the structure arranged as an inwardly opening ventilator. The hinge pins 36 are removed, and the frame F is inverted and reversed, i. e., it is placed with the hinge holes 40 at the bottom, and with the lips 52 and 54 at the outside. The sash is inverted, but it is not reversed, i. e., its hinge pin sockets 42 are at the bottom but its putty side is still inside. I thus have a structure in which the sash tilts inwardly about an axis along its bottom edge. The lip 54, aside from its function as a weather seal coacting with the rabbet 56 on the sash, serves also as a water-drip, being lower than the highest portion of the sash .profile. To shield the joint at the hinge side of the sash, I use the sealing strip 66 in this case on the outside, i. e., opposite the putty side. The. sealing strip 66 has an inclined face 12 which faces upwardly when the strip is so applied and thus serves as a water shedding surface. Again, as in the Figure 2 construction, the sealing strip extends into the rabbet 48 in the rail ID of the frame to give a tight seal when the sash is closed.

When the sash is mounted as a swing-in ventilator, the bracket 62 for the operating bar is attached to the rail I2 of the frame. The bar has notches 14 formed on the inside of its curve, which engage the edge of the swinging sash, to hold it in any desiredposition of adjustment.

I thus provide a window structure which can be made up in either one of the modes described, as may best fit the application desired. The inwardly opening ventilator has certain advantages, in that it is not so likely to create a downward draft, which may be a nuisance where work tables are located close to the window. On the other hand, some factories cannot well use an inwardly opening sash, because curtains, blinds or shutters do not give sufficient clearance. My

universal structure, however, can be used equally well to meet the requirements of either case.

The adjuster bar 60 may be made of wood, preferably plywood. The bracket 62, and even the pivot 16, may be of Wood.

The rabbets 56 and 58 are carried around the socket 42 concentrically therewith, as seen at 1B in Figure 6. Correspondingly, a portion 80 extends from the lip 52 around the hole 40, as illustrated in Figure '5. When the sash is closed,.the coaction of these parts minimizes air leakage in the portion of the stiles between .the pivot pin and the rail 10, yet there is no interference with opening of the ventilator. is the same whether the assembly is made up as a swing-out or as a swing-in ventilator.

In Figures 8 and 9, I show a particular construction for the hinge pins whereby the pin can be conveniently retracted even after the vent section is installed in a. window. The pin 36 is fitted in a recess or socket 42 and is subject to the pressure of a spring 39 which tends to move it outwardly to the position shown. A stud 4| extends from the side of the pin 38 into a slot 43, which permits a certain degree ofmovement of the pin in an axial direction. When the sash is moved to open position, the slot 43 is exposed, and any suitable tool may be used to move the stud 4| lengthwise in the slot, retracting the pin, and thus permitting removal of the sash from the frame.

It will be appreciated that the structure illustrated as embodying my invention is well adapted to fabrication from wood. Without complications, it may be made up either as a swing-out or as a swing-in ventilator. All parts of the assembly are utilized in either case, though their relations are somewhat different. An easy-working window, weathertight when closed, results from either mode of assembly.

Some changes may be made in the construc- Furthermore, the fit tion and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a ventilator structure, a frame, and a reversible panel pivotally mounted in said frame at one side thereof, said frame having an inwardly directed stop on the side opposite said pivots and on the two adjacent sides, said stops on said two adjacent sides of same frame, in the vicinity of said pivots, being continued transversely of the frame members about an are concentric with said pivots, said panel having edge rabbets coacting with said stops, and having its edges symmetrically profiled with respect to a plane through the axis of said pivots, said rabbets on opposite sides of the panel being joined by semicircular arcuate portions concentric with said pivots.

2. In a window structure. a frame having an inwardly projecting lip on the stiles and. one rail and a channel in the inner surface of the other rail, and a rabbet in the other rail adjacent one face of the frame, a sash having rabbets in the stiles and one rail adjacent both faces of the sash, hinge pin means for pivoting the ends of the other rail to the stiles of the frame, said other rail having a face contoured to fit said channel along an arc of a circle having its center in the line of the axes of the hinge pin means, whereby said frame may be turned upside down and inside out, and the sash may be turned upside down to permit the sash to swing outwardly or inwardly, and a sealing strip adapted to be secured to either face of said other rail of the sash and to project into the rabbet in said other rail of the frame when the sash is closed. I

BRUCE D. CROZIER. 

